Kitten: Disclaimer-I don't own BATIM.

Kitten: Please enjoy!

~Chapter 6-The Other Side of Hell~

Henry yawned as he stretched, walking in front of the other two. He had rings under his eyes and for some reason it really hurt to walk, that was probably because he's been moving nonstop for the past two hours, most likely more than that, without any bedrest. Much to the young animator's relief, the pain went away after a while and he was able to move around much better.

"Henry," Boris uttered and said creator turned to him,"This place... is it real unfamiliar to you, too?"

The man took a minute to look around before his blue eyes widened in realization. "Y-Yeah, it does!" He said in awe. He smiled at Boris,"Nice job noticing that, bud!" He ruffled Boris's fur on top of his head and Boris smiled with a blush.

The trio continued to explore the area with intrest. They had never been here before, so they considered that as a good thing because at least they weren't going in circles at all or anything.

"To be honest," Alice commented. "In some ways, this place feels real familiar to me. Like I've been here a long time ago..."

"Well, that could be because we're all getting closer and closer to Bendy," Boris said in response. "This area feels familiar to me, too. Bendy is real mischievous, so in the past, he's taken me upstairs before for some "adventures" and such. It was quite fun to be frank."

"We just have to be getting closer," Henry huffed, sounding determined,"After all, there's only about one more floor after this one that we're on right now." He stated.

"Umm, Henry?" Boris questioned curiously,"Just wondering, how do you even know that if you haven't been here in thirty years?"

"Y'know, just a hunch" Henry riposted casually, scratching his head in thought. "...Also," He continued after a minute, and the two toons gazed at him. "Back when I worked here, I was in Joey's office one day and we were discussing about construction of the studio. He told me that he planned on giving the studio only six floors, no more, no less."

"Hey, has Joey ever talked to anyone else about construction and those types of things?" Alice asked.

"No," Retorted Henry,"Joey told me that when it came to talking to people about that stuff, he chatted with me and nobody else."

"Wow," Uttered Boris, surprised. "He must've trusted you with all of his heart, then."

"Yup..." Henry sighed and looked down, his tone turning solemn,"He really did..."

*Flashback*

Henry poked his head inside of Joey's office with a smile,"Hi, Joey! What's up? Susie said that you needed me."

"Hey pal," Joey riposted with a grin,"Yeah, I do. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Henry shrugged,"Yeah, sure"

The young brown haired man walked inside his friend's office, shutting the door behind him. Joey always preferred the door to be closed when they talked to each other. It wasn't a big deal, and it didn't matter either way if the door was closed or opened, but he just thought shutting the door would make the talk more private, and it was. Just in case they had to chat about life outside of work. That really wasn't any of the studio workers' business. Not at all.

"What is it, Joey?" Henry asked curiously as he sat down at his desk across from him.

Joey leaned back in his chair,"Well... it's about the studio..." He started.

"Oh yeah? What about it?" Henry questioned, raising a brow.

Joey sighed and decided to just go ahead and tell him. It was better than making his best friend guess, question, and ask him if he's okay all day. He didn't want him to worry over something so minor. Not now, and especially not any time in the nearby future. He never liked having Henry worry about him, and what kind of friend, or boss would he be if he caused that worry?

"Henry, I have a big favor to ask you."

"Which is...?"

"When...When I die..."

"Joey, I really don't want to think about that-"

"Shh! Let me finish, dude."

Henry groaned with a frown, leaning back as well.

He hated it whenever Joey started talking about death, especially when it was himself he was talking about. He's already been through a lot in his life already, and not that he hasn't had a good life so far, he has, it's just he had tons of things in the world that he never wanted to think about. Joey, his oldest and closest friend, dying, was one of them.

"Can I continue now?" Joey asked, and Henry nodded gradually.

"Good. ...Henry, as I was saying when I die one day, I... I want you to be the one who takes over the studio." He finally said.

Henry's bright blue eyes widened in shock. Him? Take over the studio for Joey? That's the most craziest thing he's ever been asked in his whole life!

"J-Joey..." Henry uttered, taken aback. "Why me...?"

Joey chuckled softly,"I thought it'd be obvious. But it isn't, is it?"

Henry shook his head in confusion as a reply.

Joey grinned, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his desk,"It's real simple, actually. Your real smart, considering the fact that you've had straight A's since Elementary School, your a great artist, your drawings are amazing, I'm pretty sure a few girls here in the studio are crazy for you," Henry's face flushed at that comment, causing Joey to giggle,"..And.. your a real awesome friend."

Henry blushed with embarrassment and looked down, trying to hide a grin. Joey got out of his chair and walked over to where Henry was, who stood up as well.

"...Thanks, but..." Henry sighed with a frown. "Just because I'm all of those things, that doesn't necessarily mean that I'll be good at leading all of these workers. Face it, out of the two of us, your the better one when it comes to giving orders and such. I'm just... I'm just a kid who hides behind his sketchbook." His shoulders slumped as he looked down.

He jumped when he felt Joey place his arms firmly on his shoulders and looked back up to see Joey gazing back at him with a big grin.

"Funny," Joey snickered. "I think different. Your shy, Henry, but not weak and your no follower, believe me. I was never the leader when we were kids, you and I were on the same page, we're partners. We always were and we always will be. We're soul brothers, remember?"

Henry didn't reply still, and Joey smiled and gave his shoulders a soft, reassuring squeeze causing him to chuckle.

"Right. I remember," He riposted with a grin. "Alright, Joey. I accept. Y'know I can't say no to all of that..."

"There's my partner," Joey chuckled and grabbed Henry, putting him in a headlock and ruffling his brown hair, causing Henry to giggle.

After a minute, Joey let him go and rested his hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks Hen," He said gratefully,"Where would I be without you?"

Henry smirked playfully,"You'd be lost and have nobody to save your butt when you get in trouble"

Joey laughed,"Probably right. Well, later, bud. I'll see ya at lunch."

"Yeah. Bye" Henry riposted with a smile and the two did their special fist bump before Henry walked out of the room, Joey sat back down to finish looking things over once his friend left.

*End of Flashback*

"Yoo-hoo! Henry! HENRY!"

Henry jumped as he returned to the real world and looked down to see Alice glaring at him.

He realized what just happened and chuckled nervously,"S-Sorry, Alice... I was just recalling a memory, that's all..."

Alice's face softened and she frowned,"It was a memory involving Joey, wasn't it?"

Henry froze and this and he was hesitant to answer at first, but he confessed after a minute,"Y-Yeah... it was..." He admitted quietly.

"You really miss him, don't you?" Alice asked gently, moving closer to him.

"More than anything," Retorted Henry sadly.

"I'm so sorry, Henry..." Alice said, feeling bad, and she stepped up and hugged him.

She didn't even want to imagine the pain that he's going through right now. If she woke up one morning and found out that one of her friends were dead, she wasn't sure what she would do if that ever happened.

"Alice! Henry!" The two heard Boris call from afar, they looked up and they parted from the hug.

"What's up, Boris?" Henry asked once they reached him.

Said wolf pointed up to a staircase,"I'm pretty sure that this leads to the final floor." He claimed.

Henry sucked in a deep breath before exhaling,"What are we waiting for, then? Let's go find and save Bendy."

The other two nodded in agreement and with that, they all headed up the staircase, ready for what's ahead.